MISS Guyana, Leanna Damond is confident about her chances of being among the 15 semi-finalists in the Miss Universe 2003 competition, which comes to a close in Panama City on Tuesday night.

“Obviously, like all the other delegates I have my eyes set on the final five. There are 72 of us, the first hurdle to cross is (being among) the 15 semi-finalists, but I’m confident I can do it,” she told the Chronicle late Friday night from her hotel room.

The leggy Guyanese beauty has been enjoying positive media attention and performance reports on the Global Beauties website, living up to her promise before she departed for the contest venue to make Guyana proud.

She credited her success so far to a commitment to being herself, to God, staying focused to her purpose of being in Panama and to valuable assistance from several people.

“I’m aware that there are 71 other very, very, beautiful girls here with me, but I keep telling myself I’m just as beautiful too, otherwise I would not have been here.

“It is quite evident that the focus is on the delegates from the developed countries, but I do not want all that to be a deterrent. I know I’ve got to be me, remain focused and keep in tune with my inner me that keeps saying `Leanna you can do it’,” she said.

Leanna said her roommate, Miss Malaysia, Shelly Daly, who has been identified by Global Beauties and the media as one of the possible semi-finalists, is “a very wonderful person” and they have “really hit it off.”

Miss Malaysia, Shelly Daley, Miss Guyana’s roommate in Panama City.
Miss Guyana has also made many other friends among the delegates, some of whom have become aloof as the competition gets stiff.

Leanna, who spoke with the Chronicle just hours after completing her competition interview, said she was “pleasantly surprised” about the way she coped. “There was this confidence just bubbling inside of me. Being here is quite an experience, having to face these huge crowds, but you have to call on the inner you and don’t for one moment entertain fear, otherwise, that’s it.”

She said she was pleased about the positive media review of her national costume presentation. “I just loved it, and that helped me while on stage to be the best I could.” However, the local queen recalled seeing comments on the web by some people who did not understand her costume.

On Thursday night, Leanna competed in the evening gown segment, wearing a heavily beaded, strapless design of an ice-blue colour at the top and a darker shade below.

Though she likes the dress very much, she regretted that the bottom was not a bit wider, “so I could make longer strides and strut my stuff across the catwalk, as I did in the swimwear. I’m not making that a study anyhow,” she remarked.

Asked whether widespread reports of the recent detention of Miss Guyana Universe 2002, Mia Rahaman on drug charges in Canada had any impact on her performance in Panama, Leanna, who did not want to be drawn into that line of conversation, said, “obviously when the news broke here, some delegates and even the media asked questions.”

She said she reminded them that she is in Panama and is “not aware of the facts.”

On a lighter note, the Guyanese contestant laughingly recalled how some people thought Guyana was an African country, noting, “ever so often, I have to set the record right.”

And even though she sounded sleepy during the interview around 22:30 hrs on Friday night, Leanna asked the Chronicle to “tell the Guyanese people I love them. I thank them from the depths of my heart for this memorable opportunity I have been afforded to be an Ambassador for my country. Please convey to them too, that I remain committed to my promise of doing my utmost to put my country on the map here in Panama.”